West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack criticizes funding shortfall for school clothing voucher program

West Virginia opened a School Clothing Allowance Program on July 27, offering $200 vouchers to families for children’s clothing. The application period lasted only one week and received more than 52,000 requests before the program was closed because the allocated funding was exhausted.

State Treasurer Larry Pack said the closure was unacceptable, noting that the legislature had appropriated about $110 million for the program and that the state’s $370 million budget surplus shows the money is available. He urged Governor Patrick Morrisey to provide longer notice before changing program rules and to work with the legislature on a sustainable funding plan. Morrisey’s office had previously said the program was financially sound but acknowledged the high demand and funding shortfall.

Pack emphasized that the families receiving vouchers have no lobbyists and should not be left without support, calling the timing of the shutdown “bad” and demanding a transparent discussion on the program’s future.